Goliath the Glad-i-ator
"Thank you Rabbi for accepting my invitation on behalf of my servant." The Centurion nodded politely, albite seeming a bit somewhere between over-joyed and…. nervous.
Jesus smiled as they walked through the dusty streets toward the sinking sun. "It is good that men aught thank God for the blessings bestowed." He lent a generalized theological answer, as he wasn't quite sure what to expect. "I'm glad your servant is well and that he desires to show his thanks."
"Well, he'd asked me to inquire of the priests about your dietary customs; and then he set out unto the mountains of our ancestral lands to choose the finest of Ibex the Alps have to offer." The Centurion sighed in a bit of relief. "He'd captured a handsome youngling of the tastiest kind; from somewhere between Saxony and Gaul. He'd told me."
"Saxony and Gaul; the wilderness to the north?" Jesus gestured in that direction. "But Aethelwulf is a Nordic name; is that not true?"
"Yes, it means noble wolf." The Centurion happily explained; now quite delighted that this Jewish rabbi did know more than just of his own culture. "I am so glad that you came. Bilius will be so pleased to meet you. Please, thank you, for dining with us. We've never known a Jew to do this before. So it's quite the honor that a prophet who cares for all God's people would come to us."
"Well, I have spent time with other gentiles." Jesus paused a moment and let out a sigh. "That is when my own people tried to stone me." He gazed in earnest interest at this heathen soldier his Father had set before him. "I've told my followers to make friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; for when we fail, it will be those of you who take us in." Jesus sucked in another breath. "It won't be long before the Kingdom comes, as a mighty wind, to all nations of the earth."
"Well, I'm certainly glad that you speak of a Father and Spirit who cares for all this world." Aethelwulf went on. "I came from the snow country, above where there are no trees; through Britannia to observe Roman ship building. We are also a seafaring people and I traveled the lands of the Gauls and the Saxons down to the Mare Nostrum; to learn more of all different manner of ships."
"Bilius my servant; our legion had found him after a plague wiped out his village." The Centurion explained. "The retreating barbarian hoards had burned all the crops and I'd set out with my men to find food; but we found Bilius instead. He seemed like he'd be a nice addition to our ranks, as he was keen to show us how he caught bear. Yet, at the time; he being as tall as I. We hadn't realized he was barely 12 years old." He paused another moment.
"Yet, I realize it was still this Father you speak of, who preserves us all." Aethelwulf pondered. "I've heard legend of my own people; who say they'd made it across another greater sea, to a land where they call Him the Great Spirit. And… as simple-minded as this sounds. I think I've known from childhood. There really is only one God."
"It is the simple that confound those wise in their own deceit." Jesus answered. "Just as a 12 year old who knew how to trap bear for food; with the wisdom to not get killed by a hungry Roman legion." Jesus nodded knowingly. "Smart lad. And just as Rome would call you a barbarian; you call him a barbarian." He pondered another moment. "I'd call you both Joseph."
"Thank you Rabbi, sir." Aethelwulf sighed in near tearful gratitude. "And? Well, it is as I'm sure you understand; one man's barbarian is another man's freedom fighter." The Centurion chuckled. "Just don't tell Rome I said that." He giggled a bit more. "As per the boy. We started calling him Bilius; because he just kept growing. Bilius means tree in the Gaul tongue."
"Yes, I've come to note from years of feast days in the temple." Jesus remarked. "Sons of Adam come in all shapes and sizes."
"And I don't know if it was just the stock of his people, or the grand banquets he could manage; but tree, as in mighty yew, fits him well" Aethelwulf smiled as he continued to walk and held a hand out toward the gate they were approaching. "So with some cedar smoked Ibex, hearty tubers, fresh bread and goodly wine. I do hope this meal finds you well."
"Well, I've never eaten an Alpine goat before." Jesus chuckled with a shrug as they passed into the yard. "But if he is as fine a chef as the bear, lion and even an elephant; you've said he'd prepared for the sake of saving your legion; I'm sure he knows how to roast herd cattle."
"Oh, potatoes, and leeks and roots and turnips." The Centurion rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the fair to come. "I've rarely met a Gaul, a Saxon or even an Italian who can prepare a banquet like him." He turned and shook a secretive finger in the air. "But don't tell Caesar that either."
"Don't worry." Jesus chuckled. "I'm not planning any trips to Rome any time soon."
"Oh, he was so excited when I told him that you would come." The Centurion chattered on. "He actually started dancing around the kitchen. But!" He paused a minute and held up a hand of polite interruption. "I don't know… um? You've heard of the gladiator games… yes?"
Jesus paused a moment. "Where they pit war captives against each other for sport?"
"Well, Bilius looks like a gladiator; but he never fought other men. He just demonstrated how to kill animals." Aethelwulf explained. "A councilman from the city of Rome wanted to buy him for the games; but our legion Legate filed a plea to the Governor. The Governor appeased the councilman by inviting him to a banquet Bilius cooked with the assistance of this man's other gladiators. The governor got him so drunk, that he signed over his claim, not only to Bilius; but the three other gladiators he sported. And now they all cook for our legion." The Centurion burst out a hearty laugh. "All because both the Governor and our Legate had served with Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa!"
"Who was the Chief Lieutenant to Augustus Caesar." Jesus completed his sentence.
"Yes!" Aethelwulf held a triumphant hand in the air.
"Something to be said of the providence of the will of my Father, in the affairs of drunken fools." Jesus marked that point.
"Thank you! YES!" Aethelwulf howled; as he opened the front door and called for one of his men. "Felix! Tell Bilius his guest is here."
"Yes sir." The soldier replied and headed for the kitchen through the atrium.
A few moments passed as Jesus took in the surroundings. Some soldiers, a woman and a few children came chasing several small hunting dogs that were charging across the floor toward their master. Jesus chuckled in amusement, as they all slid across the tile into each other with wild tails of excitement.
"Hi Brutus!" Aethelwulf greeted the first arrival.
"Poppa!" The little boy cried. "Nebuchanazzar isn't listening!"
"Well that's nothing new." Jesus chortled under his breath.
"Darius, Arphaxad, Clyde and Herod!" One of the soldiers clapped. "Come here."
And with that; the brood wheedled around again galloping and sliding back to their trainers. Jesus watched the household members busied with gathering puppies, when another excited voice rang out from the other end of the atrium's entrance.
"Sir. Is that him?" It called.
Jesus turned and much to his shock; striding toward him was a giant, who looked to be at least 7 Roman feet high!
"Yes Bilius." His Centurion answered. "This is Jesus of Nazareth. The prophet who healed you."
"Hello Messiah!" the giant dropped to his knees and wrapped his huge arms around tiny Christ. His massive head came up right under Jesus's chin. Jesus wasn't sure what to think.
Father, is this what it really would have looked like if Goliath had hugged David? I don't think I've ever seen a man that was this big?
Jesus tried to grab his massive elbows.
"Thank you!" the giant cried as he thoughtlessly stood up; holding Jesus in his arms. "You really did save my life." He cuddled him like a little child and kissed the side of his face before he paused in the moment of his careless awe. "You're about the same size as my daughter." Bilius suddenly declared. "How grand that the biggest blessings come in the smallest packages." He cooed as he cuddled Jesus some more. "He put such power in such a small person." Bilius smiled as he patted Jesus's back and petted his hair. "Thank You!" He hugged him again.
"Um… Bilius." An uneasy whisper seeped into the trance as Bilius rocked back and forth and cried a bit . "Bilius." Aethelwulf tapped, tapped, tapped. "Bilius!" He tapped some more. "BILIUS!" He finally punched his arm.
"Huh?" Bilius looked at his Centurion.
"I think you can put him down now." Aethelwulf whispered as he pointed toward the floor.
"Eh?" Bilius flashed a brief recollection of reality, before he turned and looked at the grown man he was holding. Jesus didn't say a word. "Eh… sorry." Bilius squeaked an embarrassed apology and gingerly set Jesus's feet back on terra firma.
"I know he's a little shorter than the rest of us; but…" Aethelwulf tried to be diplomatic. "Ask before you pick someone up."
"It's OK." Jesus sucked in a breath and shook the shock of brain fog out. "My Father seems to have a flare for the ironic." He started to giggle a bit. "Not every day someone picks me up in the air at least two feet."
"Sorry about that." Bilius sheepishly grinned as he got down and one knee and took hold of Jesus's arms and hands. "I'm just so thankful. I would have died if he hadn't come to you." He explained. "I was so sick. And I prayed. God, I don't know who You are? I know some stuff is happening here and all these Jews and everyone are all stirred up. We can't just be here, to die for no reason. All they say about the Greek and Roman gods are so petty… and…. stupid! If You really created this world and every thing in it and all the stars and everything. It makes no sense that You would put us here for no reason… but…. gladiator sport." Bilius looked into Jesus's eyes. "I don't want to die and find out my life was pointless."
"It's not." Jesus voice cracked as he tried speak through the tears. "I was sent for the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
"I don't know what that means." Bilius replied as he hugged Jesus again. "But I think you know why we're all here. I'm not real worldly wise; but I think if anyone can answer why I'm here. It would be you."
Thank You. Jesus squeaked in his own soul as he wiped a few tears away. You use the simple to confound those who believe they are wise.
"Well." Aethelwulf's quiet suggestion crept into the moment. "Bilius, I know you've prepared a great feast. Let's go eat; and I'm sure he whom they call the Christ, will be happy to tell you all your soul longs to know."
And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Leviticus 26:10-12